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It was really rare River got a date night with just one of the group. He'd actually managed to ask Derek. He was the one he knew least about, and River was itching to get to know him on more levels.

So he'd asked Derek to meet him near this old church he'd heard about. There was supposed to be something magical about this place. At his side, River had a bag that had some hot chocolate in a thermos, a couple of cups for them, and his wallet to see if there was anything they could take home as gifts, either for each other, or maybe something for a late night Christmas present.

He was bundled up from head to toe. River tended to get cold easily. On top of his blue hair was a black beanie with no words or graphics. His torso was clad in a dark gray, long, thick almost trench coat, with a black turtle neck sweater peeking out. He had on some black pants and his typical chunky style boots. Gloves adorned his hands, and clutched the handle of his saddle bag.

Early or never was River's motto, and so he was early. He had several reminders on his phone about the date and place, just in case something started acting up with his memory. He didn't want to forget this.

He opened his phone to look up the trail of lights that was supposed to be near the church. He was just using itt as a landmark right now. Though, River was almost regretting his choice of listening to the rumors and doing this around midnight.

River looked over what Derek was wearing and just sighed slowly. He didn't look very warm. Hopefully he would be alright, because River didn't have anything extra to offer him. Maybe they would find some warm drinks along the way.

"You're fine. I'm... always early to things. I wasn't waiting that long." Adjusting some hair under his hat, River looked around before nodding. "Lights. I figured it would be at least pretty to look at."

So he took them down the start of the path. Those hands weren't clutching his bag anymore. One of them reached out to loop his arm through Derek's own and just continued down the path. "Hope the others aren't going to be too jealous that I wanted to be alone with you for a change. I wanted time to get to know you more. We... sleep a lot next to each other, on each other, but we do not get to talk too much."

River looked unimpressed when Derek said he was fine. Part of him didn't believe the kid, but he wasn't going to say it in words. Instead he just squeezed Derek's arm and listened to him talk. The sound was plenty calming for him.

"It's a very odd situation we've found ourselves in. Growing up groups like this... I don't even think they existed? Or if they did it was under the radar so much I thought like that." The bluenette shrugged a bit and just turned to look at the lights wrapped around trees, and the ones starting to come into view with the church.

It was then, however, that the clock struck midnight and the bell filled his chest with each ring. Purple eyes looked around to see if any displays were going to change with the tolling of the bell. That's when River noticed the snow flakes weren't moving. He blinked hard and shook his head. A trick of the light? Was he too tired again? He swallowed and looked up at Derek before looking around again. No, everything, even the other few people out here weren't moving.

"Is ....this some kind of joke? Everyone's frozen... This isn't some planned prank is it?"